Elderly expats given lifeline regarding mandatory insurance requirement for Non-Immigrant “O-A” visas

[flexomike]

14 hours ago, nickmondo said:

you could have changed it to O Visa a long time ago, just by leaving the country, and starting the process here, it would take 3 months

Cant do it now of course, because you need the insurance to re enter

 

There was no reason to switch a long time ago, no benefit, when the Covid hit, it was to late to do it, I got stuck in the situation where when I found out about the insurance requiement I was going to do the border crossing, but the timing didn't allow me to do it.

[tonray]

1 minute ago, flexomike said:

There was no reason to switch a long time ago, no benefit, when the Covid hit, it was to late to do it, I got stuck in the situation where when I found out about the insurance requiement I was going to do the border crossing, but the timing didn't allow me to do it.

Yup...my flight to Penang was cancelled where I would have switched it out.

[flexomike]

10 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

yep, a whole 3 hrs and 2k baht a year - oh the horrors lol

Not for people on an OA extension of stay

[Pib]

3 hours ago, hereforgood said:

So those holding a Non Imm O Retirement and extensions of that are not effected ?

Correct. 

[ubonjoe]

14 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

I have just removed several off topic posts meant to deflect the topic and several that were baiting and bickering.

Just a reminder this is the forum for visas, extensions and etc not the news forum.

From now on posts will be removed without a further notice of the removals.

Just a reminder of this after cleaning out some additional posts.

[Pib]

The Thai govt keeps making an OA visa/extension an extremely onerous way to enter and stay Thailand.  They keep making it more and more radioactive although they say they are improving it.

 

It use to be good way for many to enter/long stay Thailand but now it's an undesirable way...and a requirement for 100K USD COVID 19 insurance is not an improvement, especially since vaccines for COVID 19 exist.

 

Way to go Thailand--you turned a good thing into a bad thing.  You continue to slowly kill Thailand as a desirable retirement location.

[hereforgood]

43 minutes ago, Pib said:

Correct. 

Thank you very much

[tonray]

Just now, Pib said:

The Thai govt keeps making an OA visa/extension an extremely onerous way to enter and stay Thailand.  They keep making it more and more radioactive although they say they are improving it.

 

It use to be good way for many to enter/long stay Thailand but now it's an undesirable way...and a requirement for 100K USD COVID 19 insurance is not an improvement, especially since vaccines for COVID 19 exist.

 

Way to go Thailand--you turned a good thing into a bad thing.  You continue to slowly kill Thailand as a desirable retirement location.

To be completely honest...was going to buy a car this year and add rooms onto the GF's house (mostly to make myself more comfortable) but all that on hold now. Not going to invest anymore into a country that keeps taking potshots at me.

[Scott Tracy]

I read today, in an online article from the Thai newspaper whose name must never be spoken here, that this applies to ALL foreigners living in Thailand.

 

It says, and I paraphrase, that the cabinet approved the proposal yesterday and the Government said it would apply to all holders of the Non Immigrant Visa, (NIV).

It also says, again paraphrased, about the NIV O-A visa applicants and extensions having to show the 400,000/40,000 baht combination insurance, but goes on to say those seeking to buy the 3,000,000 baht insurance from overseas may do so, with all the hoops discussed above.

 

So, no longer 400,000/40,000 combination insurance, just for NIV O-A, but 3,000,000 insurance for all non-Thais living in Thailand. All....

 

 

[tonray]

1 minute ago, Scott Tracy said:

So, no longer 400,000/40,000 combination insurance, just for NIV O-A, but 3,000,000 insurance for all non-Thais living in Thailand. All....

The second 'Great Exodus" about to begin....who wants to play Moses and part the Andaman Sea so we can walk across to paradise ?

[Mitkof Island]

Why are the vaccinated being forced to buy Covid insurance?

[tonray]

1 minute ago, Mitkof Island said:

Why are the vaccinated being forced to buy Covid insurance?

Simply because they can do whatever they want...there is no pushback from anyone

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, Pib said:

It use to be good way for many to enter/long stay Thailand but now it's an undesirable way...and a requirement for 100K USD COVID 19 insurance is not an improvement, especially since vaccines for COVID 19 exist.

 

Way to go Thailand--you turned a good thing into a bad thing.  You continue to slowly kill Thailand as a desirable retirement location.

The entire insurance requirement is up in the air for now. It was only approved in concept. It could well be changed by the month the final version is done.

IMO the intent of it 1s to give some options for those that cannot get insurance. A plus side it that it appears immigration will have to accept foreign insurance. The covid insurance could go away before it is finalized in a few months.

[tonray]

Just now, ubonjoe said:

The entire insurance requirement is up in the air for now. It was only approved in concept. It could well be changed by the month the final version is done.

IMO the intent of it 1s to give some options for those that cannot get insurance. A plus side it that it appears immigration will have to accept foreign insurance. The covid insurance could go away before it is finalized in a few months.

With all due respect, you posted virtually the exact same thing about the 40/400 insurance...and now it hits every extension no matter when you acquired your original OA Visa. 

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, Mitkof Island said:

Why are the vaccinated being forced to buy Covid insurance?

That is only for now. When all the vaccines that are available is proven to work it may not be required. 

[ubonjoe]

10 minutes ago, tonray said:

With all due respect, you posted virtually the exact same thing about the 40/400 insurance...and now it hits every extension no matter when you acquired your original OA Visa. 

I don't think I wrote the same thing back in 2019 when the immigration order came out. 

I still think that was not the intent of the immigration order.

Also as I wrote the cabinet resolution is only a concept now. It could certainly be done differently in the end.

[tonray]

5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I still think that was not the intent of the immigration order.

While I agree with you on this....you see where we are today....that's the problem here. The path is a very slippery slope and nobody will use any common sense once there comes out a police order implementing the new rules.

[ubonjoe]

4 minutes ago, tonray said:

While I agree with you on this....you see where we are today....that's the problem here. The path is a very slippery slope and nobody will use any common sense once there comes out a police order implementing the new rules.

All the more reasons not to get excited about it now. 

[brianthainess]

On 6/16/2021 at 7:23 AM, doctormann said:

And what about O-A retirement extensions?

 

 

On 6/16/2021 at 7:19 AM, webfact said:

People applying for the visa for the first time must include health insurance or government welfare with minimum coverage of $100,000 or 3 million baht for medical expenses and treatment of Covid-19.

FIRST TIME is not an extension and an extension is not a visa.

[Neeranam]

On 6/16/2021 at 7:42 AM, tonray said:

As already stated...I'll be first in line at SavannaKhet ..if and when borders open

Don't you want health insurance?

 

[tonray]

2 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Don't you want health insurance?

 

Already have two policies: my real one and my 7700 baht useless one for my OA extension...don't need yet another

[Neeranam]

On 6/16/2021 at 8:37 AM, OJAS said:

in the areas of passport renewal (how many retirees aged 70+ are physically up to making 2 potentially lengthy and difficult trips in person to offices located in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, and why should they have to shell out an extra 5,000 THB+ for an agent to make these trips on their behalf?)

If you can't afford to pay 120 quid every 10 years, maybe living abroad was a bad idea. 

Seems like the Thai government are making it easier for expats here but is met with a lot of moaning. 

[ThailandRyan]

Just now, Neeranam said:

If you can't afford to pay 120 quid every 10 years, maybe living abroad was a bad idea. 

Seems like the Thai government are making it easier for expats here but is met with a lot of moaning. 

Again your view differs from many. I am sure more would disagree with what you wrote, so I will agree to disagree with you painting those who discuss issues as moaners.  Enjoy your day.

[Pib]

47 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The entire insurance requirement is up in the air for now. It was only approved in concept. It could well be changed by the month the final version is done.

IMO the intent of it 1s to give some options for those that cannot get insurance. A plus side it that it appears immigration will have to accept foreign insurance. The covid insurance could go away before it is finalized in a few months.

You are correct....this or that could change. 

 

But when something gets briefed to the prime minister and cabinet (i.e., the highest level of govt) which is subsequently approved in concept you can bet there will be little to no change in the final product which will be a new police order and/or Foreign Ministry regulation update regarding OA visa/extension requirements.

 

Below are the new guidelines briefed to the PM/cabinet the other day which they gave their preliminary blessing to/approved in concept subject to some further review/refinement.   I seriously doubt lower level govt personnel will stray from the wording in the new guidelines which got a preliminary blessing and IMO these guidelines will ultimately be what we see in the new police order/regulation unless big public backlash occurs sayings the new guidelines while benefiting some, does not benefit the majority but makes it worst for the majority.

 

https://www.thaigov.go.th/news/contents/details/42740

[Neeranam]

13 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Again your view differs from many. I am sure more would disagree with what you wrote, so I will agree to disagree with you painting those who discuss issues as moaners.  Enjoy your day.

What do you mean 'again'?

 

I most certainly am not saying those who discuss are moaner, I said there were many, but also some here are discussing it realistically. 

[MadMac]

Well, if you read it properly it say Covid insurance of 100kUS$ will be required for first entry wit a visa. That is de facto already the case as of now. So lots of hot air about nothing.

[Pib]

Just now, MadMac said:

Well, if you read it properly it say Covid insurance of 100kUS$ will be required for first entry wit a visa. That is de facto already the case as of now. So lots of hot air about nothing.

Apparently you didn't notice the new guidelines will apply to OA extensions of stay also....(i.e., where the guidelines say "...for requesting to stay...")

[MadMac]

1 minute ago, Pib said:

Apparently you didn't notice the new guidelines will apply to OA extensions of stay also....(i.e., where the guidelines say "...for requesting to stay...")

 

Im refering to your translation.

[Pib]

Just now, MadMac said:

 

Im refering to your translation.

The translation talks both initial issue of OA visa and extension of stay.

[Mike k]

4 hours ago, Searat7 said:

The Medicare supplement plan will only cover visits/procedures approved by Medicare so you will have zero coverage outside the USA. Some think Medicare is cheap too but this is not the case if you have a really good income as payments are indexed to your income. What really galls me is that the Thai health insurance has to be effective for the length of my O-A visa so I will be paying for 5-6 months extra a year as I spend half of the year in USA.  I have used O-A visa since 2006 so it is my understanding I could not arrive in Thailand visa exempt and apply for a type O visa based on retirement after arrival in Thailand.

In 2017 I came here on a 3 month tourist visa after I was here 1 month I was able to convert it to a retirement visa after proving the 800000 bhat bank account